Profile Preview :: Michael Ervin, The Treasurer of Treasurer's Assistant

Continuing on down the list, Michael Ervin aka "Merv" makes his blog debut as LSCM's Treasurer Assistant.  He is sometimes referred to as Assistant to the Treasurer and absolutely loves working closely with his dear friend and Treasurer, Kyle.  Jumping back a number of years Merv attended the Bloomington public school system that.. prepared... him... for... college... While many of us have our varying views of Bloomington, Merv looks back quite fondly and remembers days on the playground of 2nd and 3rd grade where he once called fellow LSCM member (and VP) Pete Anderson his bff.  Graduating from Jefferson High School and then continuing his education at Bethel University, Merv graduated in 2009 with a degree in Business Finance and Poly Sci.

Over the years, Merv has held such coveted positions like Cub Foods Maintenance Boy, Minnesota Valley Country Club Lawn Boy, and Northwest Airlines Bag Boy.  Consideration has been set in motion to change his title to Treasurer Assistant Boy.  A financial intern position was held at UBS and a Legislative Aide position at the Minnesota House of Representatives is also under his work belt.  Currently he resides as an internal auditor at United Health Group where sitting at a desk with limited motion plagues both himself and the rest of us.

Merv was one of the few to bring some real life investing experience which took place during his stint as a bag boy.  Upon receiving 120 shares of Delta Airline stock (during the merge) priced at $11, frustration, bewilderment and a bad lunch brought along his sell out at $9.  Investment in Microsoft was his next move (at $24 a share) and again after much frustration, bewilderment and a bad breakfast burrito the shares were sold at a loss at $22 a share.  Here's to learning from our mistakes!

Besides making new friends and maintaining old ones, Merv wanted to join an investment club to keep his mind focused on investing as well as leveraging other people's ideas, opinions, and strategies and then turning them into profitable investments.  As his friendships and the club continue to grow, five years down Merv hopes for solid returns on investments and continually obtaining vast knowledge on making good investments.  Ten years down he hopes for the capital earned to be turned around and invested into a business and a dream of his (and he hopes of the club as well); outdoor batting cages. 

Bethel Professor Chuck Hannema has been an influence on Merv's investing strategies as well as David Browns, "All About Stock Market Strategies," and his Grandpa.  His Grandpa's investments lie outside of the stock market which he believes to be "driven too much by emotion and intangibles" and not having enough real value.  Instead, he owns a car wash, strip malls and has partial stake in a Texan Jack-In-The-Box.  Owning tangible assets or land and then offering a product or service are investment strategies shared by both Merv and his Grandpa.

Merv likes to fill his free time with biking, softball, golf and hockey.  One of his personal accomplishments is visiting 24 of the 30 MLB team stadiums and has plans to visit both San Fran and Oakland this year.  Other parts of his free time are spent listening to country music, reading Shane Claiborne books, and eating at the outrageously delicious food graced by the gods known as Chipotle.  Also, Inception tops the chart of his movies selection.

If Merv's interests and investing strategies were to be aligned and say, he were to find himself owning a baseball field, he would call it LSCM Field (which I must admit is a superb name) and would feature Carl Crawford, Hanley Ramierez, Ryan Braun, and Albert Pujols topping the batting order.

Looks like we'll have to keep you around for a while Merv.  Chances your Grandpa is an angel investor?

Cheers